Catholic Public Domain Version
"And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit. "
— Ecclesiastes 1:17, Catholic Public Domain Version
“And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.”
“And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind. ”
“I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.”
“So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!”
“And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,”
“And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.”
“And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.”
I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
The perverse are unwilling to be corrected, and the number of the foolish is boundless.
I have spoken in my heart, saying: “Behold, I have achieved greatness, and I have surpassed all the wise who were before me in Jerusalem.” And my mind has contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit.
Because of this, with much wisdom there is also much anger. And whoever adds knowledge, also adds hardship.